~What do you call yourself?~

[WhatsThatBehindYou]

Dart Falgren

Main Entry:
art·ist Listen to the pronunciation of artist
Pronunciation:
ˈär-tist
Function:
noun
Date:
circa 1507

1a obsolete : one skilled or versed in learned arts
b archaic : physician
c archaic : artisan
2a: one who professes and practices an imaginative art
b: a person skilled in one of the fine arts
3: a skilled performer ; especially : artiste
4: one who is adept at something <con artist> <strikeout artist>
(Source: Merriam-Webster)

Smart assery aside, I don't think that you have to make money from your art to be considered an artist.

I agree, that's just my personal connotation on it.

[hornet433]

i think artist is an adverb in some ways. i think that u can b an artist but also u r an artist.....that made no sence. well i tink that even if u dont play a profetional sport in the NFL or whatever u can still call your self a foot ball player. thats what i think smile

the best adivce will probly b... in paint "scoop the goop" and in drawing " dont b afraid"

[Captain Frith]

•○I consider myself an 'open artist' becuase I enjoy all types of art and I draw with many different styles along with different influences. ○•

[WhatsThatBehindYou]

I understand what you mean hornet. ^.^

[AthenaTT]

You don't have to be "professional" to be an artist. Most of the great, now-recognized artists of our time were completely ignored when they were alive and painting. If you create, you are an artist. I draw, scupt, take photos, and I actually do happen to be a graphic designer for my living. I call myself an artist. Some people think that because I have drawn "celebrities" that I am not an artist. I tell those people to suck my pencil lead because I don't care what they think. Just because I don't draw dark, demented, tortured things from my soul does not mean I'm any less of an artist just because I draw fun, silly things. Even if a 2 year old scribbles with crayon, that's art. So consider yourself an artist - because you are. heart

[WhatsThatBehindYou]

How can drawing celeberties mean you're not an artist? Some people are idiots.

[queen Aoibheal]

im an artist, but i vary in many things and am freelancing right now as i look for a permanet type job. for me i think and artist is just someone who shows their feeling in some type of way on paper, sculpting or such, and doesnt matter what it is, but where the insperation for it came from.

many think im a tracer though because i do alot of portaits, or celebirty drawings for people who pay me good money for it. though i dont understand how i trace when i get wallet sized photos and move it to a large canvas or a fame backs. So ive learned to ignore them.

[Mahiru Suoh]

Well, I'd say "Budding Artist". I have LOTS of work to do. =)

[cirtneccE]

I call myself... Dudette!
Erm but seriously, calling yourself an artist if you draw, paint, sculpt, ect. for a hobby wouldn't make you politically incorrect but I sort of agree with you that the word should be saved for those who create art for a living... But thats just a personal opinion, the dictionary says otherwise.

[House-ism]

I call myself a graphic artist, because I make money from the crap I create in Photoshop.
xD
Not a lot of money, and I'm only working freelance, but I still get paid for it.

If I didn't make money from it, I wouldn't call myself an artist. Because I see the term 'artist' as being used to describe an occupation. Like most people here, I guess.

[Tanafsu]

I am an Art Major in college. so yes, I am an artist, just not quite professional yet.

and as for the best "tip" I havnt heard one, but i have come to learn that
"Art is the creator's dairy, if only they learn to read it."
the tip: Find the meaning behind each individual piece you create.

[The Smoking Pencil]

You can be an artist and not be professional. 'Course, if you were, I guess that'd make you a "Professional Artist", huh?

I am an artist. More specifically, a sequential artist. =D
Best words of wisdom: "You want monkeys going at it over your work."

[Aidona]

Saraneth 6th Bell

Being an 'artist' has nothing to do with being a 'professional'. Someone can be amazingly good, but only do it for a hobby, so would that make them any less of an artist? No.

Qft. I agree with this.

When referring to myself I tend to narrow the spectrum and call myself an illustrator, since it is the form of art I relate to and do the most. But still, I'm an artist. I'm not a scientist, that's for damn sure.

[WhatsThatBehindYou]

Yep, certaintly not a scientist myself eather! ^.^

[Mr Spammer]

The term "Artist" is referring to the profession.
Best way to describe this train of thought:

If I were to draw the plans to a house, would that make me an architect? I could potentially be good at drawing plans, but that doesn't make me an architect. To become an architect one must be trained and possess the knowledge to do their job properly. An artist is someone who is trained and has completed said training. Now the best way of proving that you have this training is to have a degree, otherwise you will have to of gathered sufficient experience. There are very few professional artists in history that were not trained by an artist or didn't go to an art school.

You can be artistic, but that does not make you an artist. You can be creative, but again, that does not make you an artist. I suppose the best way to understand art and to understand what makes an artist is to take up critical theory in art schools. Art is highly critical and requires a lot of thought and discipline to understand it.

I'd consider myself a student of fine art. (Fine art is more specific than Art, but I'll leave that debate to one side). I'm being trained in traditional print making and traditional painting by some of the finest artists in my country. While difficult, I have come to appreciate it more. I feel that you have to earn the title "artist" as it is not something you are entitled to.

I suppose the best advice is that it isn't about the end product. How on arrives at the end product is what makes the piece.
An example would be an artist I know that was making steel origami. He said that he has never in his life been able to figure out how to make a swan. The piece technically failed, as it did not turn out perfect, but he did get his point across if you ask me. Your end product can fail but some sort of process has to be present for that end product to be valid.